To share and connect with those interested in writing from life, recording their personal histories, writing a memoir for publication and/or personal use, and all things related to writing one's story.

"Have you thought about writing your family history, but found yourself stuck from the start? Writing a family narrative can be a daunting task, but Karen Jones Gowen found a way to bring her mother's story to life." (Homespun Magazine)

Friday, December 10, 2010

Challenging Myself for 2011

I was recently freed from a responsibility I've had for the past three years that took up a great deal of my time and energy. So I'm feeling somewhat giddy with the freedom. There are three major things I want to take on for 2011:

MORE WRITING, MORE READING, MORE WALKING

Of course I'll have to work it into my schedule but I think I can do it! For reading, it will be to read one book a week, or let's round down to 50 books for the year. I'll count them down on my blog and let you know what I'm reading. (Reviews as always will show up on Goodreads.) For writing, it will be to write every day for a minimum one hour. And not journaling or blogging but real, creative, writing. The hard stuff. The stuff that books are made of. I have never done this. It's about time I set this challenge and do it. Walking is easy, since I already have started but I want to keep it up. Walk 30 minutes a day. (I'll let you know if I'm losing any weight!)

So there you go, my challenges for 2011. Not New Year's resolutions, because I never keep those. These are challenges. With no excuses allowed. I'm going to start practicing from now until January 1st, to see how it will all work into my schedule. Maybe clean my closets ahead of time to feel organized, then I'll be ready to go! What new challenges do you want to take on for the new year?

12 comments:

Oh wow!! I am in awe!! And you can so do all these too cos you are one Xena warrior woman!!!! Yay for you!!!

I'll have to think very carefully for my challenges cos darn it you have so inspired me!! So once I set them in stone I must follow through too!! Ooh I sense a challenge for me in my preceding sentence! Yikes!! Take carex

Karen, i try to do a minimum 30 minutes walking a day and like you I would love to sit down and write, real writing as you say. I am going to start by plugging out all internet and then treat myself to coffee break blogging. If I waited till after clearing out my wardrobe, I'd have to wait till 2012Best of luck with your challenges.

Karen, I love your list and think I will adopt it. Instead of walking, for me it's going to the gym, but 50 books a year (I think I'm close to that but never count) and one hour serious writing a day -- love it!

I will share your challenges, but modify them slightly. 1) Reading 50 books. How about 'reading 50 non-Star Trek books' (my vocabulary is starting to get tunnel vision)? and I will be interested to see what you are reading, so I know where to go...2) Writing every day for at least an hour. How about: 'Writing family history book every day'? 3) Walk 30 minutes a day. How about: '3 times a week'?

Followers

Just Do It! Write Your Story

"I devoted myself, early on, to writing. Really writing. Just doing it, no matter how awkward and unfit I felt. So every single morning I am on the planet, I grit my teeth and this hard, embarrassing, abject, thrilling thing--writing--because I want, in part, to count." (from Page after Page by Heather Sellers)

Photos from Farm Girl

High school graduation photo of Lucille Marker, the farm girl

Lucille drinking from the well

John Marker, Dust Bowl Days

The Marker Nebraska farmstead

"Farm Girl presents a vision of life on a Nebraska homestead during the 1920's and 1930's, told from a child's perspective, and illustrated with photographs of the time." (Quincy Herald Whig)

"Through the intertwined stories of the life of the Marker family and of the broader historical time period, the book is more than captivating. Gowen's vivid account of her mother's life allows Farm Girl to read as seamlessly as if one were recalling personal memories." (The Holyoke Enterprise)

"Farm Girl will capture the interest of readers in the photos the book contains and witty recollections Lucille has of her grandparents in Catherton Township." (The Red Cloud Chief)

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